July 17th
Sir (Is Love Enough, Sir) (Netflix streaming)
Trial by Fire (Netflix streaming)
More from Melbourne Documentary Film Festival
More from Scandinavian Film Festival
So dear readers, from day to day we don't know what we can watch on the big screen and where, and now that Melbourne is in Lockdown 5.0 I've included a couple of Netflix films I recommend. Plus I keep you in the loop of the ongoing Scandi Film Festival, and the Melbourne Doco Film Festival which you can still catch online.
Is Love Enough, Sir?
Dir: Rohena Gera
Length: 99 mins
Streaming on Netflix
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| © Netflix - moving and beautiful |
Numerous wins and nominations accompany this exquisite Indian film, telling of wealthy Mumbai businessman Ashwin (Vivek Gomber), who calls off his marriage in the USA, and returns home where he is waited on hand and foot by his maid Ratna (Tillotama Shome). She is a village girl working in the big city, hoping to get an entry into the world of tailoring and fashion design, but her lowly status makes it hard. I don't wish to reveal too much here plot wise, except to say the film deftly and sensitively handles so many of the class-based issues that still plague Indian society today. Performances are spot on, cinematography brings India alive (in a non-Bollywood way), and the narrative arc is so moving and meaningful, it's a winner all round. 4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended
Trial by Fire
Dir: Edward Zwick
Length: 127 mins
Streaming on Netflix
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© Netflix - justice - what
justice? |
Todd Willingham (Jack O'Connell) was executed by the state of Texas in 2004, after being found guilty of the murder of his three children in an arson attack in 1991. The jury took barely an hour to convict him, based on flimsy evidence. Elizabeth Gilbert (Laura Dern) is a writer and mother to two teen kids. She connects with Willingham through a prisoner outreach program, and becomes convinced of his innocence. Dern is, as always, just wonderful to watch, and although some critics have sunk the boots into the film, I found this disturbing and compelling watching, a potent case for abolition of the death penalty.4 - highly recommended
More from . . .
Melbourne Documentary Film Festival
Until 31 July online
21-31 July select films in cinemas
Who knows whether lockdown will end in time for this fabulous festival to step up to the big screen as planned, but hey, if you have to be locked down, what better thing to do with your time than get onto the online offerings from the festival? I've already reviewed several over the last two weeks (check 'em out), and here are a couple more excellent docos for your delectation.
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| © MDFF |
My Rembetika Blues: As a card-carrying Greek-in-Training, I am especially partial to films about Greece and its music. This fine doco looks at the origins of a form of Greek music often referred to as "the Greek Blues", born out of exile and poverty. Sydney-based filmmaker Mary Zournazi traces the journey of her ancestors, as they escaped from Smyrna in Turkey at the end of the Greco-Turkish war in 1922. In discovering that story, she also learns much about the musicians who have made rembetika their lives and how the music bonded a diaspora community. She gets in touch with her own Greek heritage, and also draws a salient comparison with the refugee experience then, and what is happening today throughout the world. Much great music and information in a compact run-time.
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| © MDFF |
Batoor A Refugee Journey: Barat Ali Batoor once worked as a highly regarded photographer for the US Embassy in Kabul. After a series of photos he published (about dancing boys in the sex-slave trade) caused his life to be in danger, he fled to Pakistan, and from there embarked upon the perilous journey to Australia. This gripping and gruelling doco traces not just his journey, but that of several young men also seeking asylum. Batoor's documentation of the journey through video and photos is harrowing and unique. He is so articulate, insightful and compassionate in his narration, and the hardships of the refugees so heart-breaking, I defy anyone not to be enthralled by this story, which again highlights the perilous position of so many refugees, and the immorality of those taking advantage of them.
More from . . .
Scandinavian Film Festival
Continuing in Melbourne until 28th (when we open up)
Palace cinemas
Two more from the Scandis for when we open up (and for those lucky enough not to be in Vic or NSW). The films are chalk and cheese, one relatively light and breezy, the other quite an intense drama.
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| © Scandi FF |
Tove: Tove Jansson (Almo Poysti) will be known to lovers of the Moomin children's books as their author. But her rich life involved so much more, both personally and artistically. This wonderful Finnish/Swedish co-production begins in 1945 in Helsinki, where Tove aspires to be a painter, lives a Bohemian life, takes a married lover, and subsequently has a passionate lesbian love affair with theatre director Vivica. All the while her Moomin books are developing, as is her need to discover her independence and her true self. Fine dramatic fare, deserving of its many awards and nominations.
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| © Scandi FF |
Diana's Wedding: Liv and Terje marry on the same day as Princess Di and Charles. They name their baby daughter Diana. Like the Royals they have a turbulent relationship; unlike Charles and Di they battle on through the years with a seemingly undying love. The little family endures a lot of dysfunction, with Liv and Terje behaving mostly like overgrown kids, while Diana and her best friend look on disapprovingly. Despite some serious undercurrents, I find the film amusing and a light relief from dark times.
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